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Fitness Tip of the
Month
Fitness Tip of the
Month
What is core
conditioning and why is it important? Many people believe their
core is solely their abdominal muscles (the ones you can see) and
their upper back muscles. Actually, the core is more involved than
that. Core training targets the muscles in the inner unit that work
as stabilizers, working in conjunction with the abdominal muscles,
upper and lower back muscles, the muscles surrounding the pelvis and
the muscles around the shoulders.
The goal of core
exercises is to enhance spine stability to prepare for all types of
challenges. Because the lumbar spine is unstable it is necessary for the
trunk muscles to maintain stability in that region, and this will create
functional movement in the rest of the body. A quick slip on the ice
could cause you to take that fall and becoming injured, while with a
strong core, you might possibly have the strength to pull you back up,
avoiding that fall altogether.
One core exercise you
can practice at home is “the plank.” Place your elbows and toes on the
floor as you become a flat “bridge,” keeping your body aligned in a flat
“plank.” You may be able to hold that position for only a few seconds to
start, but keep trying, and you will gain strength. Many functional core
exercises can be performed on a stability ball. If you would like
functional core training, let Ruth Ann know; she can come to your home or
office or provide core training in her home in Northwest Crossing.
